High speed chase begins in Perkins County, ends near Holyoke
By Perkins County Sheriff
James Brueggeman
For the Grant Tribune-Sentinel
On Sunday, March 19, just after midnight, a Perkins County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 23 near Mile Marker 14 at a speed well below the posted 65 mile per hour posted speed limit. The deputy caught up to the vehicle, a dark colored sport utility vehicle with Colorado plates, and it turned on its right blinker and began to pull to the side of the road, straddling the traffic lane and shoulder on the westbound fog line. The vehicle then illuminated its hazard lights, coming to a stop near Mile Marker 13.
The deputy activated the emergency lights on his patrol vehicle and attempted to conduct a motorist assist check to determine if there was a medical or mechanical problem, or if the driver was possibly impaired. The vehicle then pulled back onto the roadway at 12:03 a.m. and again began traveling westbound with the right blinker activated.
The vehicle accelerated to just over 80 mph and a vehicle pursuit was initiated by the deputy. Perkins County Dispatch notified the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and Holyoke Police Department in Colorado of the pursuit headed in the direction of their jurisdiction. As the vehicle traveled westbound the driver drove the vehicle left of center at times reaching speeds of just over 90 mph before slowing as it traveled through the Village of Venango and again speeding up after it passed through the village and crossing the Nebraska/Colorado State Line into the State of Colorado.
The Perkins County deputy terminated the pursuit at 12:11 a.m. when the vehicle entered the State of Colorado and resumed regular patrol duty in Perkins County.
At 12:23 a.m., the Perkins County deputy was notified the Holyoke Police Department located the vehicle, engaged in a short pursuit, and apprehended the driver and a passenger after performing a Tactical Vehicle Intervention maneuver to bring the vehicle to a stop at Highway 23 and Highway 385 on the outskirts of Holyoke.
Colorado authorities learned the vehicle, a blue 2004 Nissan Murano SUV, was reported as stolen out of Commerce City, Colorado. The driver, Christian Nicole Quintana, 47, of Fort Lupton, Colo., was taken into custody on Colorado charges. The passenger, Anthony Gregg Haralson, 44, of Commerce City, Colo., was transported to Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke with a complaint of pain.
Quintana was transported to the Holyoke Police Department where she was later interviewed by the Perkins County deputy who initiated the pursuit. Quintana was cited and released on Perkins County charges of Improper Stopping or Standing, Flight to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving, Driving Left of Center, Driving During a Period of Revocation, and Theft by Receiving Stolen Property $1,500-$4,999. A Perkins County Court Appearance was set for April 19, 2023, at 1 p.m. Quintana was jailed on Colorado charges at the Logan County Jail in Sterling, Colo. Haralson was not cited by Perkins County law enforcement and was not taken into custody by Colorado authorities.
The Sunday morning pursuit is being reviewed in its entirety to determine compliance with Nebraska State Statutes and Perkins County Sheriff’s Office Policy and Procedure.